Tests You Will Need to Pass to Become a U.S. Citizen

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In order to become a U.S. citizen, you will not only need to
satisfy the various other requirements described in the article “Who Can Apply
for U.S. Citizenship,” but to pass tests on your knowledge and understanding of:

the fundamentals of history and of the
principles and form of government of the United States, and

the English language, as it is spoken, written, and
read.

Although those requirements sound very broad, you won’t
really have to learn all there is to know about the U.S. and its primary
language. Let’s look more closely at what you will, in fact, have to study and
learn.

Preparing for the U.S. Civics Exam

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has prepared
100 potential questions for the history and government exam. These, with their
answers, are published in advance, for anyone to see. You will have to memorize
the answers to these questions – ideally all 100 of them, but you will really
need to answer only six out of ten questions correctly in order to pass.

The trouble is, you can’t know in advance which ten
questions you’ll be asked – the USCIS official who interviews you gets to choose.

There are some people who, for reasons of age or disability,
will find it nearly impossible to learn the answers to these questions. Some
exceptions can be made in these cases.

Civics Test Exception for Elder Applicants

If you are at least age 65 and have lived in the United
States as a permanent resident for at least 20 years (these don’t need to be
continuous years) you can take an easier version of the history and government exam.
This is commonly referred to as the “65/20 exception.” You will have to study
only 20 questions. You’ll be asked ten of the questions and will need to answer
six correctly in order to pass.

Civics Test Exception for Disabled Applicants

If you have a physical or mental disability that prevents
you from learning the required concepts of U.S. history and government, you may
qualify for a waiver. As we explained for people seeking to avoid the English
requirement, you’ll need to have your doctor fill out a form (N-648) explaining
exactly what your disability is and why it prevents you from learning concepts
of U.S. civics and government.

Preparing for the English Exam

You will need to show that you can speak and read in
English. You will need to demonstrate your English skills at your citizenship
interview. The USCIS officer who interviews you will of course address you in
English, and observe how well you respond to questions and instructions. The
officer will also ask you to read a short passage, and to write a sentence that
he or she says aloud (dictates) to you.

If you aren’t already comfortable with the English language,
taking a class at a local adult school may help.

English Requirement Exception for Advanced Age

Two separate rules allow older people to avoid the English
requirement. If you are at least age 50 and have lived in the U.S. as a green
card holder for at least 20 years, you can have the entire citizenship interview
conducted in your native language. (This is commonly known as the “50/20”
waiver.) Your 20 years of residence do not need to have been continuous. If you
have been away for short periods (fewer than six months at a time, to be safe),
that is acceptable, so long as your total time living in the United States
reaches 20 years.

The second rule, known as “55/15” waiver, applies as follows.
If you are at least age 55 and have lived in the United States as a green card
holder for at least 15 years, you can have the citizenship interview and exam
conducted in your native language. Your 15 years do not need to have been
continuous.

English Requirement Exception for Disability

If you have a physical or mental disability that prevents
you from learning English — for example, an illness that requires regular medication
that makes you severely drowsy, a developmental disability, or deafness -- you
may qualify for a waiver of the English requirement. In such a case, you would
be allowed to have the citizenship interview done in your native language.

You can’t just request this waiver; a doctor must fill out a
form (N-648) explaining your disability and why it prevents you from learning
English.